CMHP Council

After reaching 25 accredited members the founders board of the CMHP has been replaced by the first elected council. The CMHP would like to thank all of the founders for their hard work in establishing the CMHP as a credible organisation.

 

 

Mission statement

The College of Mental Health Pharmacists promotes its members as recognized experts in the optimal use of medicines in improving mental health and supports them by a process of ongoing accreditation and education.

Background

The College of Mental Health Pharmacists was commissioned by the United Kingdom Psychiatric Pharmacy Group (UKPPG) in 1999.

1. Aims and objectives

Aims

1.     To drive the development and provision of high quality mental health pharmacy services to all service users

2.     To establish accredited pharmacists as recognized expert practitioners in medicines use in mental health

3.     To assure the competence of accredited specialist mental health pharmacists

 

Objectives

1.     To liaise with other professional bodies, organisations and voluntary groups working in mental health to promote optimal use of medicines

2.     To advise on appropriate competencies for pharmacy practice and standards for pharmacy services in mental health

3.     To set competencies for pharmacist practitioners in mental health that meet the requirements of clinical governance and correlate with competencies set for pharmacists specializing in other areas of practice

4.     To encourage and support pharmacists in achieving the competencies necessary to practice in mental health

5.     To accredit individual mental health pharmacists as competent practitioners

2. Organisation

2.1 The name of the organisation is the College of Mental Health Pharmacists (CMHP).  Post-nominal letters will be MCMHP.

2.2 The College of Mental Health Pharmacists is managed by the elected Council. It is professionally accountable to its membership and financially accountable to the UKPPG.

2.3 The CMHP will be non-party political and supports diversity.

2.4 Membership of the CMHP shall be open to all pharmacists registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain who are members of the UKPPG and meet the additional criteria for membership of the College.  The criteria for membership will be subject to regular review and due notice will be given of any significant change.  Overseas mental health pharmacists (Associate members of the UKPPG) may be considered for membership on an individual basis at the discretion of the Council. 

2.5 The Council will consist of up to nine CMHP members.  Election to the Council will take place by postal voting in accordance with the guidelines for postal voting.

2.6 Current UKPPG Committee members are not eligible to stand as CMHP Council members.

2.7 Nominations for election to the Council must be in writing, in the form of nominee proposed and seconded by CMHP members.  Nomination forms must be signed by the nominee, proposer and seconder and be received by the Council Secretary by the end of July.  Nomination forms are available from the Secretary.

2.8 Council members must stand down by rotation after three years but can be re-elected.

2.9 The Council will elect its own officers, including

President

Vice President

Secretary

Registrar

Treasurer

 

2.10 A quorum for Council meetings will be 50% of elected members rounded up.

2.11 The President will remain in post for three years and on retirement of the President the Vice President will assume this office.

2.12 Members may be co-opted to fill casual vacancies or for specific projects.  Co-opted members will not have voting rights.  Co-opted membership will be no more than 30% of the Council.

2.13 The Chairman of the UKPPG will be an ex-officio member of the CMHP Council, and the President of the CMHP Council will be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee of the UKPPG; neither is to have voting rights on the reciprocal body.

2.14 The Council will be responsible for the organisation and administration of the CMHP, within the mission statement and overall aims of the CMHP.

2.15 The Council will produce an annual report for its members and the UKPPG that will include audited financial accounts. The annual report will be presented during the Annual General Meeting.

2.16 The Council will convene a minimum of one meeting a year.

2.17 The Council may appoint sub-groups as it deems necessary and shall prescribe their function provided that all acts and proceedings of any such sub-group shall be reported to the Council as soon as possible and provided further that no such sub-group shall expend funds of the CMHP otherwise than in accordance with a budget agreed by the Council.

2.18 Any matter not provided for in the constitution and concerning the organisation and activities of the CMHP shall be dealt with by the Council whose decision is final.

3. General meetings

3.1 An Annual General Meeting of the CMHP shall be held every year, usually during the UKPPG conference.  This is an open meeting but only CMHP members have voting rights.  Voting will be by personal attendance.

3.2 General meetings will be chaired by the President or, in their absence, the Vice President of the CMHP.

3.3 Procedure at general meetings will follow guidelines as determined from time to time by the Council.  The present guidelines are:

·        Motions will be proposed and seconded by CMHP members

·        The motion will be debated

·        Any amendments to the original motion will be proposed and seconded

·        Voting will take place on the amendment to the motion

·        Voting will take place on original or amended motion

·        Motions will be passed or lost on the basis of a simple majority

·        The Chairman will have a casting vote

3.4 Motions for presentation to General Meetings must be proposed and seconded in writing by CMHP members and must be received by the Secretary two weeks before the date of the Annual General Meeting.  The member proposing the motion must attend in person or arrange for someone else to do so on their behalf.

3.5 Special general meetings

3.5.1 Special General Meetings may be called at any time by written request to the CMHP Secretary signed by a minimum of 30% of members.

3.5.2 Thirty days notice shall be given of any special general meeting to all CMHP members.

3.6 The Council may be dissolved by a resolution at a special general meeting called for this purpose.  The resolution must have the assent of two thirds of those present and voting.  Such a resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets remaining after satisfying any outstanding debts and liabilities.  These assets may not be distributed among members of the Council.

4. Amendments to the CMHP Constitution

4.1 No alterations to this constitution may be made except at the AGM or at a special meeting called for this purpose.

4.2 Voting on amendments to the constitution will follow the general procedures for voting at general meetings, except that

·         Alterations to the constitution require the assent of a minimum of two thirds of the members present and voting at the AGM or special general meeting

·         Abstentions will count as a vote against

·         The President will not have a casting vote.

4.3 Proposals to amend the constitution must be made at a general meeting and may only be made by CMHP members.  These must be proposed and seconded in writing by CMHP members and must be received by the Secretary two weeks before the date of the general meeting.

4.4 Members proposing amendments to the constitution must attend the general meeting in person to present their proposition.

5. Finances

5.1 The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping account of all income and expenditure and shall present a financial report to all Council meetings and provide regular reports for UKPPG committee meetings.  The Treasurer shall present the accounts duly audited for the approval of members at the AGM. 

5.2 Bank accounts shall be operated in the name of the Council and withdrawals shall be made on the signature of any two of three officers of the Council.

5.3 The financial year shall commence on 1st April.

5.4 Two auditors, who are not members of the Council, shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting to examine the audited accounts of the Council.

 

 

November 2005